Combined match box and memorandum device



Oct. 15, 1940.

E. F. How/M @i COMBINED HATCH BOX AND IEIORANDUM DEVICE Filed Aug. 7, 1939 INVENTOR. .471" /M/ AT RNEY Patented Oct. 15, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFiCE COMBINED MATCH BOX AND MEMORANDUM DEVICE Eddie F. Howald, Quincy, Ill. Application August 7, 1939, Serial No. 288,886

4 Claims. (Cl. 20G-31) This invention relates to a combined match box and memorandum device, and its .main object is to provide a novel storage receptacle for matches from which the matches may be con- 5 veniently extracted one by one as required for use, and which is` also adapted to serve as a convenient ready reference device bearing memoranda to indicate articles which are required or should be ordered on any particular day.

Another object of the invention is toy provide a match box which may be supported ony a wall or other support, as in a kitchen, for permanent use to hold a store of live matches for individual Withdrawal as occasion requires and to hold waste matches to be discarded from time to time or to be used as indicators in connection with memo# randa matter displayed on the box.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a match box which may be easily refilled with matches from time to tim-e, which may be closed to protect the enclosed matches or to allow the box to be transported without the matches being spilled, and which may be adjusted for use to allow extraction of live matches and to form a receptacle for the temporary disposal of used matches.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction,

combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a match box embodying my invention as it appears in closed condition.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the box suspended in readiness for use but in closed condition.

Fig. 3 is a View of the suspended box as opened for use.

Fig. 4 is a View of the outer casing of the box from which the match receptacle has been removed and showing a portion of the casing removed to form the opening for exposure of the pull up and stop tab.

Fig. 5 is a view of the match receptacle and its false front wall or match retainer and showing such receptacle as ready for use in connection with the casing.

In carrying my invention into practice I provide a match box made of cardboard or other suitable material and comprising an outer casing l and an inner match receptacle 2, each of rectangular, oblong rectangular form or other suitable form. The casing I as shown is of 0blong rectangular form and comprises a front wall 3, back wall 4 and side Walls 5, said casing being open at bottom and top. The wall 3 lof this casing may be 'provided with a match scratch surface 6 and is shown as having printed thereon -5 memoranda items of food substances or other household substances required from time to time. Opposite each of these items is a circular or other shaped weakening line 'i bounding va portion adapted to be punched out to form a keeper l0 opening. When the box is put into use these portions may be punched out, as by the use of a match as a punch tool, so that matches A may be inserted in the keeper openings thus formed. to serve as markersto remind the householder .f1.5 that goods or items of the character marked should be ordered. Either new matches, or Awaste matches iroma waste match chamberhereinafter referred to, may be used for this purpose. The receptacle 2 is adapted to be slidably received 20 in the casing and is of a-length such that when properly inserted with its bottom in line with the bottom of the casing its top will'lie just below the top of the casing. When so disposed a fastening 3 may be passed through the back wall .25

of the casing near its top to secure the casing in working position to a Wall without the fastening interfering with the sliding movements of the receptacle. One of the side walls of the casing is provided with weakening lines, as perforation's, :30 bounding a rectangular space and defining a portion which may be punched out to forma guide opening 9 when the box is put into use, the upper and lower walls of said opening forming stops.

The receptacle 2 is-formed to snugly t but 35 easily slide in the casing and comprises aback wall l0, side walls Il, atop wall I2 and a bottom wall l3,'sad receptacle being normally open at the front so that when removed from the casing it may be readily lled with a charge of 40 matches A. A anged retainer strip M is provided to form a false front Wall for the receptaclevr serving to retain the matches in position and from escaping through the open front when the retainer is removed from the casing or slidably '45 projected to any extent therefrom. One of the side walls of the receptacle is provided with perforations or a weakened line so that portion forming a pull and stop tongue l5 may bev .bent 50 outward therefrom to project through andcooperate with the opening 9 in the casing. Said side Wall is also initially provided with perforations or weakened lines near its lower end to allow a part from a pull tongue I6 to be bent therefrom, 5 5

whereby also a match extraction opening l? will be formed in said wall.

In the use of the device the casing l enclosing the receptacle 2 stored with matches may be sold as a lled unit or the uniilled casing and receptacle in empty condition may be sold to a customer who lls the receptacle with matches as required from another source of supply. To prepare the box for use as a dispenser the parts in walls 5 and i l bounded by weakened portions are pressed out to form the opening 9, tabs l5 and i6 and opening Il and the iilled receptacle fitted in the casing with the bent out tab i5 projecting through the opening S and abutting against the upper wall thereof and the tab i6 bent downward and projecting below the bottom of the box, as shown in Fig. 12. V/'hen the parts are so posi# tioned and the box is hung up the receptacle through its frictional engagement with casing i will beheld in its normal or upraised position shown in Fig. 2 in which it is wholly enclosed and opening il is closed by the lower portion of casing wall 5. In this position, as stated, tab $5 engages the upper wall of the opening 9, which serves as a stop to limit the upward movement of the receptacle or its normally closed position. By pulling down on tab it and tab l5 also if desired, the recetpacle may be slid downward to the dispensing position shown in Fig. 3 to bring opening I below the lower edge of wall 5 and expose said opening to allow matches to be extracted from the receptacle, This dispensing position is gaged by engagement of tab i5 with the lower wall of opening 9 which serves as a stop to limit the downward movement of the receptacle. This downward movement of the receptacle depresses its top wall l2 so that it will form in conjunction with the upstanding portions of the casing a chamber I8 at the top of the box for the reception of spent matches. From either the store A or chamber i8 live or spent matches may be extracted for insertion into the receiving openings in the front wall of the box formed by punching out the portions bounded by weakening lines 1 to mark or indicate the designated articles of food or merchandise to which attention should be given for any purpose, as for renewal of supplies exhausted. These portions may be punched out initially by the manufacturer of the box or by the user at the time the box is put into use.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction, mode of use and advantages of my improved match box and memorandum device will be readily understood without a further and extended description. It is to be understood that the box may be made in a cheap form to be sold for use once only, or until the store of matches therein is exhausted, and then discarded, or it may be made in a more durable and expensive form for permanent use and to be relled with matches as occasion requires. It is obvious that, while I have disclosed the invention in the form of a match box, it may also be used for holding and dispensing other commodities. While the structure disclosed is preferred, it will, of course, be understood that changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A match box comprising an outer casing having"l a front wall, a back wall and side walls, and being open at bottom and top, a match receptacle slidably mounted in the casing and having a back wall, side walls and bottom and top walls and being open at the front, and a removable front wall for said receptacle operable when disposed in the receptacle to close the front against the escape of matches therefrom, said receptacle having an opening in one of its side walls adjacent to its bottom through which matches may be extracted from the receptacle when the receptacle is slid downward in the casing to bring said opening below the level of the lower edge of its adjacent side wall, said movement of the receptacle serving also to bring its top wall below the level of the top of the casing so that said top wall will form with the walls of the casing extending thereabove a chamber to receive waste matches, and cooperating means on the casing and receptacle for limiting such downward sliding movement of the receptacle to dispose the casing and receptacle in such cooperative positions.

2. A match box comprising an outer casing having a front wall, a back wall and side walls, and being open at bottom and top, a match receptacle slidably mounted in the casing and having a back wall, side walls and bottom and top walls and being open at the iront, and a removable front wall for said receptacle operable when disposed in the receptacle to close the front against escape of matches therefrom, said receptacle having an opening in one of its side walls adjacent to its bottom through which matches may be extracted from the receptacle when the receptacle is slid downward in the casing to bring said opening below the level of the lower edge of its adjacent side wall, said movement of the receptacle serving also to bring its top wall below the level of the top of the casing so that said top wall will form with the walls of the casing extending thereabove a chamber to receive waste matches, and cooperating means on the casing and receptacle for limiting such downward sliding movement of the receptacle to dispose the casing and receptacle in such cooperative positions, said means comprising an opening in one of the walls of the casing and a tab bent outward from the receptacle and extending into said opening.

3. A match box comprising a casing having a back wall, side walls, bottom and top walls and being open at bottom and top, a match receptacle slidably mounted in the casing and having a front wall, side walls and top walls and being open at the front, one oi said side walls being provided adjacent to its bottom with a match extraction opening and a downwardly bent pull tab, and a removable front wall for said receptacle operable when disposed in the receptacle to close the front thereof against the escape of matches, said receptacle adapted to be drawn downward by pull upon the tab to dispose said match extraction opening below the bottom of the casing and to dispose its top wall below the top of the casing to form a waste match receptacle at the top thereof, and cooperating means on the casing and receptacle for limiting such downward sliding movement oi the receptacle to dispose the casing and receptacle in such cooperative positions,

4. A match box comprising a casing having a back wall, side walls, bottom and top walls and being open at bottom and top, a match receptacle slidably mounted in the casing and having a front wall, side walls and top walls and being open at the front, one of said side walls being provided adjacent to its bottom with a match extraction opening and a downwardly bent pull tab, and a removable front wall for said receptacle operable when disposed in the receptacle to close the front thereof against the "escape of matches, said receptacle adapted to be drawn downward by pull upon the tab to dispose said match extraction opening below the bottom of the casing and to dispose its top wall below the top of the casing to form a waste match receptacle at the top thereof, and cooperating means on the casing and receptacle for limiting such downward sliding movement of the receptacle to dispose the casing and receptacle in such cooperative positions, said means comprising an opening in one of the walls of the casing and a tab bent outward from the receptacle and extending into said opening.

EDDIE F. HOWALD. 

